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Friday, February 29, 2008

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.

SATURDAY 1 MARCH*** The State We're In ***In this week's The State We're In:

It's five years ago this week that the conflict in Darfur erupted and the situation is only getting worse. We speak with aid workers, experts and even a former UN peacekeeping general about the current situation and what can be done.

We ask if one man's trash is another's treasure with the story of the Catadores, the men who make a living recycling Brazil's rubbish.

We meet Cinemawallah Salim who entertains the children of Dehli's slums with his self-made mish mash of old movie trailers.

And host Marnie Chesterton lets an identity theft expert put her own trash bag under the microscope to show how easy it is to steal personal information.

And finally, back in the 1950s, Algerians fought a brutal war of independence that sent thousands of colonists, or pied-noirs, fleeing to France. Half a century later, they're back. And we go with them.

SUNDAY 2 MARCH*** Stories of the Twentieth Century ***The Bolshevik revolution ended the reign of the Czars and brought the Communists to power in Russia. It had an impact on world history that lasted for more than seven decades.

Boris Pasternak's novel, 'Dr. Zhivago', captured the moment, the terrible forces of war and ideology, and wrapped them in an unforgettable love story. Professor William Simons of the Institute of Russian Studies in Leiden explains the background of this iconic novel, in Stories of the Twentieth Century.

*** Reloaded ***

Here's your chance to catch up with some of the highlights from recent programmes; the best, the most interesting or newsworthy, or sometimes the funniest, chosen by our producers and presented by Mindy Ran.

We all know the story of Anne Frank. Now it's been made into a musical. We'll hear about the controversy this has caused. Also, our Arts & Culture Editor Philip Smet will be in with a look at the 'kunstkoop regeling', an interest-free loan to buy art that's made Holland the envy of the art world.

Columnist Perro de Jong will be in with his critical eye. This week he looks at sex, God and the falling birth rate. And our Political Editor John Tyler will tell us what's going on in Dutch news. Our feature music artist this week is the Dutch band King Jack.

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition *** In The State We're In - Midweek Edition:

It's five years ago this week that the conflict in Darfur erupted and the situation is only getting worse. We speak with aid workers, experts and even a former UN peacekeeping general about the current situation and what can be done.

We ask if one man's trash is another's treasure with the story of the Catadores, the men who make a living recycling Brazil's rubbish.

We meet Cinemawallah Salim who entertains the children of Dehli's slums with his self-made mish mash of old movie trailers.

And host Marnie Chesterton lets an identity theft expert put her own trash bag under the microscope, to show how easy it is to steal personal information.

Nicky is in his early twenties. He lives alone, has never kissed a girl and lives daily with the memory of his parent's death. His mother haunts his thoughts and he's constantly searching for the perfect woman. It's a fantasy world that leads to an inevitable conclusion.

This week's Radio Book is 'The Art of Delivering a Love Letter' by Wanda Reisel.

*** Earthbeat ***This week on Earthbeat we look at the unethical testing of drugs on an uninformed and vulnerable population in developing countries. There's lots of money being made by drug companies and middlemen, but most of the patients - many of the poorest of the poor in Asia and Latin America - end up penniless and more ill than they were before.

And a small portrait of life for an animal investigator in New Zealand whose job it is to track down poorly kept animals in the country's plentiful farms.

And we hear of a novel Dutch fund that's been set aside for cultural emergencies - in times of war or natural disasters NGO's rush to alleviate the suffering of the people. The Cultural Emergency Response was set up to rescue some of the world's most precious cultural heritage that has survived centuries only to be felled by the effects of modern warfare.

A Pan European team links up across the continent each week to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

The programme is a unique example of European co-operation, produced by the continent's leading international broadcasters, it reflects the diversity of European society and voices. Each week we drop in on specialists around Europe and catch up with our extensive network of correspondents for their unique take on the events shaping the week.

BBC Brasil celebrates 70 years of broadcasting with four special debates

BBC Brasil celebrates its 70th anniversary by hosting four special debates in the cities of Brasília and São Paulo starting Wednesday 12 March.

Head of BBC Brasil, Rogério Simões, says: “BBC Brasil is 70, and I am very proud of how far we have come since 1938. Our aim has always been to help our audience understand the relevant issues behind the news and their consequences. In turn our audiences keep telling us that they see us as fresh, innovative and reliable broadcasters, connected to the world and with these debates we aim to prove these credentials once again. Our online operations go from strength to strength and in January 2008 we received 4.2 million visitors to bbcbrasil.com and from content on our Brazilian partner websites. We are also reaching new audiences with video on Bandeirantes TV and our radio output has a loyal listenership. We invite all our radio, online and TV audiences to engage with the debates.”

A detailed information about the debates and a registration form is available online at the website www.bbcbrasil.com

Background informationBBC Brasil entered the world of international news on 14 March 1938 with the words: “... Mister Hitler entered Vienna last night, amid formidable enthusiasm. Standing up, inside his open car, he repeatedly answered, with Nazi greetings, to the crowd's cheering.” The voice belonged to presenter Manuel Braune, who would be known to millions of radio listeners as "Aimberê”.

BBC Brasil was part of the BBC Empire Service which began in 1932 as a shortwave service first broadcasting in English to the outposts of the British Empire. Initially, the BBC Brazilian service was part of the Latin American service, and its programmes were reproductions of the programmes broadcast in English. Back then, half a dozen Latin American journalists made programmes for the whole of Latin America and news in Spanish. During the Second World War, the Latin American service was divided into two parts: one broadcasting to Brazil and the other – to Latin America’s Spanish-speaking countries.

Today BBC Brasil has restructured itself around its online offer, with focus on video content and interactivity. It has around 30 staff based in the UK and Brazil. The London- based team is supported by a global network of BBC correspondents and journalists in key cities across the world. BBC Brasil’s São Paulo-based bureau – the largest news bureau in Brazil – houses a major part of the service’s editorial staff which contributes to the news content and features on air and online.

BBC Brasil has maintained an unparalleled respect and credibility as a source of accurate and balanced information and analysis for Portuguese-speaking audiences throughout the world. Its timely coverage of national and global events includes award-winning programmes such as Children at Work which received the Great Prize Prêmio Ayrton Senna of Journalism, Radio category, in 2004.

BBC Brasil’s radio programmes can be heard in seven daily news bulletins via partner stations CBN and Globo networks and on partner television station Bandeirantes TV while a network of BBC correspondents across the world provide content for its popular 24x7 website, bbcbrasil.com. Launched in 1999, the website offers up-to-the minute news and information, features and analysis on the region and the rest of the world, in text, audio and video. Its interactive offer includes major debates, forums, blogs, votes etc.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- It broadcasts only three hours a day. Its on-air reporters use fake names. And its operators don't know for sure whether their target audience is listening

Free North Korea Radio, based in Seoul, South Korea, broadcasts news of the outside world across the border. It's illegal for North Koreans to listen to anything other than state-run radio, and all legal radios are fixed so they can play only channels approved by the government. But the founder of Free North Korea Radio, Kim Seong Min, believes that more and more North Koreans are secretly tuning in.

Adventist World RadioIn response to numerous requests from a multitude of listeners in many different countries throughout the world, Adventist World Radio is pleased to announce the re-introduction of our popular DX contests in association with our DX program, “Wavescan”. It is planned that the DX contest for this year will be conducted during the month of April and it will be staged under the title, “QSL Alphabet DX Contest”.

In our 2008 DX contest, listeners are invited to search their own personal QSL collections and to choose 26 QSLs, one for each letter in the English alphabet. Listeners are also invited to submit at least 3 reception reports on AWR transmissions, and to provide at least 3 radio cards. Here are the full details for the four parts in this year’s big DX contest.

* PART A: Alphabet QSL List

Search your own personal collection of QSL cards and identify 26 QSLs, (preferably QSL cards, though QSL letters will also qualify), with each QSL representing the 26 consecutive letters in the English alphabet. These QSLs, all in your own personal collection, should confirm the reception of broadcasts from radio stations on shortwave, mediumwave, longwave, FM, TV and utility communications, but not amateur nor CB. For example, you can choose one QSL to represent the letter A, and it could be a QSL from Austria, or Australia, or Argentina, or Ahmedabad in India, or ABC Radio, etc, etc. Representing the letter B, you could choose for example, BBC, or Belgium, or Berlin, or 2BL, or Radio Butterworth, etc. And so on down through each letter of the alphabet. For the letter X for example, you could choose, CFRX, or XEW, or 3XY, etc; and for the letter Z, you could choose Zambia, or Zimbabwe, or 2ZB, or Zed Radio, etc. You should then make up a tabulated list of the 26 QSLs that qualify, giving the letters of the alphabet, the radio station, the station location, the year of the QSL, and a brief description. (Remember, in Part A, it is not necessary for you to send the QSLs to the AWR office, just your tabulated list.) Here is a sample for the tabulated list of QSLs:-

Where possible, photo copy what you consider are the 5 best cards in your list, preferably in color, though black & white from some countries is acceptable, and enclose these copies with your contest entry.

* PART C: Submit 3 Reception Reports

Submit at least 3 reception reports on any AWR transmissions from any location in any mode.

* PART D: Submit 3 Radio Cards

Where possible submit at least 3 radio related postcards for the Indianapolis Historic Collection, old or new, and these can be picture cards, text cards, QSL cards, etc. (Not valid are amateur QSL cards nor CB QSL cards.)

Things to Remember

*1. All entries must be sent by post and they should be postmarked during the month of April and received in Indianapolis by the end of May. In some cases, early entries will be accepted. Late entries will not qualify for the awards, but the reception reports will be verified with the special contest endorsement. Entries by email will not qualify for the awards, but the reception reports will be verified with the contest endorsement.

*2. Where possible, please provide a strong self addressed envelope.

*3. Where possible, please provide return postage, preferably in an acceptable form of international currency notes, though mint postage stamps or IRC coupons will also be appreciated.

PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., February 27, 2008 - Yahoo! Korea announced today that it will offer Voice of America news covering the Korean Peninsula, international and U.S. news. The online news service will cover breaking political, diplomatic, and international news from hard-to-access areas of North Korea and the Korean Peninsula.

Under this partnership agreement, Yahoo! Korea will offer VOA news in the Korean language in real time, giving Korean users free access to news flashes on important topics such as the six-party negotiations regarding North Korea and major policy decisions of the U.S. Administration and Congress. The VOA news service will be available on Yahoo! Korea mid-March.

"This partnership allows Yahoo! Korea as a leading global portal to steadily strengthen its news content, enhancing its role as the Internet's leading starting point by delivering domestic and international news promptly and accurately," said Kim Jung-Hoon, director of Yahoo! Korea Media.

In addition, Yahoo! Korea plans to offer VOA's Special English, which uses a vocabulary of 1,500 common words presented at a slow rate of speech, and is regarded worldwide as an excellent resource for those learning American English.

In announcing the agreement, John Lennon, VOA Associate Director for Language programming, observed, "This represents another valuable avenue for our Korean audience to get reliable news and information on significant events – developments we know they are eager to get in real time."

VOA offers accurate, objective, and balanced news to a worldwide audience of more than 115 million people. The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. (Source: VOA News)

by James E. O'Neal, 3.01.2008James E. O'Neal is the Technology Editor for TV Technology magazine and a Radio World contributor.

This is the full-length version of an article that appeared in briefer form in the print edition of Radio World.

The Voice of America’s Delano shortwave transmitting station is difficult to ignore. Even though it’s set back nearly two miles from California’s Route 99, the massive metal antenna structures rising from the almond groves and citrus orchards can’t help but command the attention of motorists. The sheer size of the installation makes it appear intriguingly close to the highway, yet few motorists ever stop to investigate. After the sun sets, the station begs attention with the bluish-white pulsing of strobe lights and red beacons, too numerous to even begin counting from a moving car.

If locals in the nearby town of Delano are asked about the steel appurtenances and the lights, most answer that it’s some sort of government facility. Perhaps there’s a little secrecy involved — some kind of a big radio station maybe, or something to do with radar, or a cold war left-over.

Should an extra-curious motorist decide to exit the main highway and meander along the series of right-angled section-line byways leading to 11015 Melcher Road, he or she can’t help but be impressed by the bulk of the buff-colored building and the acres of antennas spreading out around it. Most would-be visitors get no closer than the station’s mail box. The operation is fenced and gated, with special permission needed to enter.(Continued story at Radio World:http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0106/t.11328.html

Today's shortwave BLOG LOGS, represent a portion of those recently cut from my SWBC Logs column, due to space constraints. Contributions are always welcome for the magazine or blog, and may be directed to my above email address. Thanks very much to the contributors for your kind words and support.Gayle VH

Radio San Gabriel. 6079.95, 1020-1035. At tune-in, noted steady local style music. Lady's Spanish comments until 1030 when canned promos, continuing to 1032. Live comments to station ID as "Radio San Gabriel," to more music. Signal fair but overall poor quality. (C Bolland, FL).

Radio Yura. 4716.63, 0953-1010. Live comments to "Radio Yura" identification. Steady 'musica folklorica Bolivia's music from 0957. No break from music on the hour. Signal observed as poor to fair during this period. (C Bolland, FL)

EgyptRadio Cairo. 6250, 2140-2142. Items discussed about Gaza and the Palestinians. Station identificaiton at 2147. Good signal for SINPO 44333. Tuned station on the high side to resolve audio problems. (J Evans. TN)

New ZealandRadio New Zealand International. 17675, 2047-2051, Discusison on the New Zealand music industry. SIO 444 until 2051 when it dropped off drastically. QRM observed from CVC in 17680. (H Frodge, MI).

ThailandVoice of America relay. 9620, 0030. Text on American politics and the Middle East nations. SIO 333. (S MacKenzie, CA).

Radio Thailand. 9535, 2035-2044. Announcer's RT News to national news segments. Closing announcements at 2044 and off abruptly in mid sentence. Program back on at 2044 when bell interval signal. SIO 3+53. (H Frodge, MI).

USAAFN/AFRTS. 5446 USB, 0758-0808. "AP News" promotional to talk of slumping US housing market. Public service announcements for military finances to "Sports Overnight America" program. Good signal. (J Wood, TN).

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Live radio stations across England enjoyed extra listening overnight as thousands of people tuned in to gain essential information about an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3. BBC Radio Five Live's up all night programme took phone calls from listeners reporting that the quake took place at 12:56am.

Five Live presenter Russell Fuller read texts from listeners and spoke to BBC reporters around the country. Janice Long on BBC Radio 2 also invited reports from listeners who experienced the quake, which had an epicentre near Lincoln.

Pete Price, who was on-air at the time 450ft above Liverpool on City Talk 105.9 told RadioToday.co.uk: "The last quake was very scary but this one was much worse. It's a windy night anyway and when the tremor started everyone just looked at each other wondering what the hell was going on.

"The phone lines went mad with people calling in from Merseyside and all over the UK, with the calls continuing on the subject into the early hours."

There are currently no reports of any radio transmissions being affected.(Sourcee: Radio Today)

British earthquake to cost £30 millionInsurers are facing a £30 million payout after the earthquake that shook large parts of Britain in the early hours.

The earthquake, which registered 5.2 on the Richter Scale, was the biggest for 24 years. One person was seriously hurt when a chimney crashed through his roof into his bedroom and emergency services said the injury toll could have been a lot higher had the earthquake hit during the day.Continued story at Telegraph .co.uk:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/27/nquake927.xml

With yesterday's post on LOWfers and MEDfers, it's time to take a look at low-powered beacons, known as Non-Directional Beacons. Next time you tune down around 190-535 kHz, and hear morse code, you have what is known in the hobby as an NDB.

Beacon signals transmit twenty-four hours using morse code consisting of one, two or three letters or digits. NDB's guide pilots or mariners as they travel across the globe.

By following the changes of propagation, long-wave DXers can log beacons from hundreds or even thousands of miles away as signals can change hour by hour or night to night.

Often times, signals may fade in quite loudly, much to the delight of beacon chasers. Adding to the excitement of the chase, is to follow up by verifying these low-powered signals. Most beacon heads seek not only a verification, but background information on the transmitting facility. Beacon QSLers use a generic form of addressing, for stations located in the United States. The basic address as: Airport Manager, Flight Services, Name of Airport, city, state and zip code. If the station is an FAA controlled facility, the address is: FAA Field Office, Name of Airport, city, state, and zip code.

Reception reports must include a self-prepared QSL card, and may be hand-designed or computer printed for a more professional appearance. Information should include station identifier, station location, frequency, date/time of reception, verification of reception statement, area for signature or station stamp, and a blank space for location transmitting power or antenna. By including this information in a concise manner, it should leave little doubt to the receiving station of your reception.

Return mint postage should be included as well as a souvenir post card or other interesting enclosure to attract the attention of the signer. A self-addressed envelope is a must, and is used successfully by beacon DXers.

For additional information on beacon DXing, subscription to The Lowdown publication, feature articles and more, visit the website of the Longwave Club of Americahttp://www.lwca.org/ It's a great place to get the low-down on beacon chasing.(Source: Gayle Van Horn/QSL Report-Monitoring Times)

16:4 ISTLok SabhaThe Government has proposed to set up 93 AIR transmitters and 41 Doordarshan transmitters in the country during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. in addition, 100 Low Power Transmitters (LPTs) will also be set up in the North Eastern States. The total estimated cost in respect of All India Radio is Rupees 182 crores. The same in respect of Doordarshan is Rupees 198.37 crores. The criteria followed by the Government for establishment of Radio and TV transmitters include factors such as extent of resultant coverage to urban and rural population; provision of coverage to tribal, hilly, remote and border areas; terrain conditions etc., and it has no linkage to the number of cities.

This information was given by Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri P. R. Dasmunsi in written reply to a question inparliament today.

KUWAIT 15110 Radio Kuwait in English on 15110 seems three hours on air in our mornings at 0500-0800 UT. R Kuwait noted today Febr 27th, took over of FM 99.7 MHz local radio station. Weak signal at 0515 UTC, but gets increasingly stronger S=6 at 0535 UTC, and at 0555 UTC similar strong as adjacent Samara-RUS in Tatar on 15105 kHz approx. S=8-9 signal. Before Kuwait got stronger I used small 2.6 kHz filter or used even Eton E1 SYNC function in USB mode. Kuwait's transmission is aimed in direction of 100degr towards Indian subcontinent, and remaining backward side lobe into Europe [315degr] is not as strong as the Kuwait 15495 kHz Arabic channel.

Solar activity was very low with no flares detected. The visible disk has been spotless since 05 February.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels during the entire summary period.

The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels at middle latitudes during 18 - 22 February. During the same period, high latitudes observed mostly unsettled to active levels with isolated minor to major storm periods. This activity was due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream that became geoeffective midday on 18 February. ACE solar wind measurements (638 km/s at 19/0143 UTC) and density (5-5 p/cc at 18/0644 UTC) both peaked early in the period.Significant changes in the IMF were also observed early in the period including increased Bt (peak 8 nT at 18/1104 UTC) and intermittent periods of southward Bz (minimum -6 nT at 18/1411 UTC).The high-speed stream began decaying midday on 20 February and ended the summary period with velocities near 410 km/s.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity27 February - 24 March 2008

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on all days of the forecast period except 28 February and 08 March.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet to unsettled on 27 February. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active levels during 28 February - 01 March due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected during 02 - 07 March as the high-speed stream subsides. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active levels during 08 - 13 March with minor to major storm periods possible at high latitudes due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream.Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected during 14 - 24 March as the high-speed stream subsides.

A new Catholic radio station has begun broadcasting in Paraguay. Radio Fe y Alegría belongs to Compañía de Jesús (Society of Jesus), a religious order of the Roman Catholic church. The Jesuit station broadcasts from the capital Asunción on the mediumwave frequency of 1300 kHz. Radio Fe y Alegría intended to begin transmissions already in November 2007, but the project was delayed. Experimental low-power broadcasts were reportedly launched in December, and full operation was to begin in February 2008. Radio Fe y Alegría intends to be a channel of social change, promoting education and social justice. The station can be contacted by writing to Radio Fe y Alegría, O'Leary 1847 e/6° y 7° Proyectadas, Asunción, Paraguay, or by calling at +595-21-390-576 / +595-21-371-659, or by fax at +595-21-390-584. You can reach the station also by email at radioemisora@feyalegria.org.py(Source: DXing.info)

Dutch regional commercial station Radio Waddenzee is planning to become a real offshore broadcaster for three days on 1-3 May 2008. The station will be anchoring its lightship Jenni Baynton close to the uninhabited island of Griend, off the coast between Harlingen and Terschelling. The anchorage is on the route of a boat race that takes place on 2 May, and the event will be covered live on Radio Waddenzee.The station broadcasts on 1602 kHz with a power of 1 kW, and has two transmitters - one on the ship, and the other on land. For the special three-day broadcast, the shipborne transmitter will be used.(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Nina Yacoubian of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) writes: On the occasion of the sixth birthday of Radio Okapi, the radio sponsored by the United Nations, MONUC head Alan Doss addressed its listeners on a special programme on February 25 2008, where he encouraged them to serve “themselves,” because it’s “a national radio, in the service of all the voices of the nation.”The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the RDC exhorted the Congolese to continue to listen to Radio Okapi. ‘It’s there for you. It’s not a station of the United Nations. Of course it covers some information on the UN, but it is more than that. It is indeed a national radio and I hope that all voices of the nation use it, the authorities, but also the Congolese people,’ he said.Over the years, Radio Okapi has seen a remarkable progression with a diversification of its broadcasting networks from FM, to shortwave and the Internet. Today it’s the only media that covers and broadcasts to the entire territory of the DRC. With 200 employees, the majority of whom are Congolese, it’s considered as the most popular and most believable radio in the country, with an audience of nearly 30% of the Congolese population.Radio Okapi remains ‘a reference’ and ‘important for the country,’ according to Alan Doss, because, it ‘continues to inform the Congolese people in the five national languages of the country, through a set of programmes addressed to all strata of society.’However the role of Radio Okapi doesn’t stop with the dissemination of information. The United Nations, and MONUC in particular, through its radio continue to accompany the Congolese on the path of peace and democracy. Radio Okapi covered the first transparent, free and democratic elections in the country, inviting the political actors onto their airwaves to explain their policies and their ideas, as well as sensitizing the voters on the whole electoral process.Radio Okapi continues to uphold its policy of impartiality, to bring its contribution to the consolidation of peace, and to the restoration of a state of law. The radio gives the opportunity to the political actors to communicate their messages, to inform the people of the laws, so that they can understand the stakes and participate in the reconstruction and economic recovery of their country, explained Mr Doss.(Source: MONUC via ReliefWeb/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Here's an alternative to take advantage of while the DX season is prime. It's been called the most unusual amateur radio frequencies you can explore and definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Low Frequency Experimental Radio, and Medium Frequency Experimental Radio, consists of stations unlicensed but legal and not regulated by the FCC under Part 15. These two provisions allow the use of 1 watt power between 160-190 kHz in the long wave bands, and from 510-1705 kHz in the medium wave band. Hobbyists, depending on which bands they utilize are called LowFERS, MedFERS or both.

LowFERS are experimental beacons on 24 hours, sending their call in very slow morse code, repeated continuously. Some experimenters are amateur radio operators, although it is not required. MedFERS also use slow speed morse code for identifications. The optimum listening opportunity is winter, when static levels are at a minimum and propagation is usually stable. LF and MF hobbyists may hear signals from a few miles to several hundred miles.

Most LF and MF stations welcome reception reports and will confirm readily. Verifications require a prepared QSL card or form letter, mint postage stamps and a SASE. Taped or CD reports have proven successful. To learn more on experimenting with the LowFERS and the MedFERS, QSLing trends and more, go to the Longwave of America home page at: www.lwca.org or The Master List of Part 15 Radio Stations of North America http://home.att.net/~weatheradio/part15.htm Now is the time to explore this interesting DX during the current prime listening period.(Source: Gayle Van Horn, QSL Report/Monitoring Times)

Outlaws May Ue Super-Stations at Sea - 1934Back in 1934, the United States established the Federal Communications Commission, laying the groundwork for regulation of wired and wireless services in the country. Among the concerns facing the commission was interference from pirate broadcasters advertising illicit gambling and liquor sales.

That year Modern Mechanix magazine printed a look at stations operating from international waters and Mexico. The most interesting part of the article, however, is the "radio floating seadrome," a pulp novel-style bandit's lair that places a full radio studio (complete with piano), living quarters and generators.

Two stations with same ID "Eira Dengi Kurdistan" (Here is Voice of Kurdistan) were heard with s/on on Feb 21: at 0245 UT songs sermon/pray, ID at 0301 UT and reported and after 0340 UT on 3930 kHz (drifts in range 3912-3935 to avoid the Iranian jammer) - there was an Iranian jammer in range 4850-4880 kHz, but no signal of VOK was heard here. Later at 0330 UTC began another VOK on 6335 kHz with similar opening procedure, but not jammed by Iran (Feb 21).(Rumen Pankov-BUL, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 22/WWDX Top News; BC-DX #848 wb, Germany)

Black Shop Radio6925 USB At sign-on clear "Black Shop Radio testing" announcement. Station IDs at 2322 & 2325. Off for one minute at 2314 and six minutes at 2325, but came back both times with more rock music. I have seen others citing a different ID on this new one, but good level here and ID is definite. It appeared to be the same operation that I heard last week as Lightshop Radio. This raises the possibility that last week's actual log could have been White Shop Radio. They are showing symptoms of being a new pirate, with the transmitter off and on at times with production techniques evolving. Gave no address (maildeop). This one is worth watching, but it is slightly confusing now. (G.Zeller, OH/FRW)

James Bond Station2027-2037:15*, 6925/U; James Bond tunes and theme. Station off with theme and "Bond -James Bond, stirred, not shaken." SIO 354. Not heard in a long time. (H Frodge, MI/FRW)

Long Range Radio0314-0345, 6925/U. SIO 242/141+. Back again after brief QRT from their earlier show. Mainly Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower and a clear station ID of "Long Range Radio at 0353. After that, it faded out. Level much lower than the earlier broadcast that same evening. (G Zeller, OH/FRW)

Maple Leaf Radio0010-0026, 6925/USB. SIO 333. Sign on with Oh Canada anthem. Station ID into music tune Lets Go to Canada, CA-NA-DA. Station ID as, "this is Maple Leaf Radio with a program of Canadian Music." (Ragnar, MI/FRW)

Radio Playback InternationalHeard from 1842 and continuing with nice pop music and sporadic IDs as "Radio Playback - the voice of our music." Is this the previous italian station(i donot remember the name )? Signal level is max S8, 44434 on the 2x16 m antenna, as usually with R75. (Zachirias Liangas, Greece/HCDX)

The Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), the country’s national broadcaster, has launched an online radio service. BBS Radio introduced the Internet service on Thursday to mark the 28th birthday of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.The online service is available for 15 hours a day, from 0000-1500 UTC. It can be accessed via the BBS website: http://www.bbs.com.bt/ .

Launched in 1973, BBS Radio broadcasts on FM in the national language, Dzongkha, as well as Sharchop, Lhotsham and English. Its shortwave service can be heard as far afield as Europe and New Zealand.

BBS also runs a television service, introduced in 1999, which broadcasts for four hours daily in Dzongkha and English in the capital, Thimphu. It reaches other urban areas through cable services.(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union via Ron Howard)

Log1200 – 0300 GMT? The BBS schedule online is 0600 to 2020, which is thelocal time in Thimphu (0000 – 1420 UT). Listening to their audiostreaming after 0915 UT, they went into their call in show after thenews, corresponding to their Feb 24 schedule (1515 Thimphu time).Nice! (Ron Howard-CA)

I believe they are actually scheduled for sign-off at 1500UT, so they should be available online from 0000-1500 UT.

An update from Ron Howard:Hi Ron,Thanks for your e-mail. You're absolutely correct - BBS Radio's audio streaming is available from 0000 to 1500 GMT. I stupidly miscalculated that Thimpu was six hours behind GMT instead of six hours ahead. I'll correct the story on our website.

Thanks a million for spotting the error and letting me know about it.Best wishesAlan [Williams]Managing Editor, AsiavisionAsia-Pacific Broadcasting UnionKuala Lumpur

Sunday, February 24, 2008

HAVANA, Cuba — Cuba's parliament named Raul Castro president on Sunday, ending nearly 50 years of rule by his brother Fidel but leaving the island's communist system unshaken. In a surprise move, an old guard revolutionary leader was named No. 2, suggesting that major changes are not likely anytime soon.Continued story at Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332158,00.html

Raul Castro Named Cuban PresidentCuba's National Assembly unanimously votes to confirm Raul Castro as president to replace his brother Fidel.BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

It was an historic day in radio broadcasting, as the Voice of America (VOA) signed on for the first time on this day in 1942. The worldwide, shortwave radio service, a department of the United States Government, continues to beam a variety of programming around the globe under the auspices of the United States Information Agency (USIA).The VOA transmits from modern studios in Washington, DC and beams much of its programming via satellite to transmitters worldwide. In addition, the VOA maintains huge transmitters in the U.S. and around the world in order to provide distinctly American information, culture and entertainment, in dozens of languages, to every corner of the globe. For years, the tune, Yankee Doodle, has opened each sign-on broadcast.More than 40 years after the VOA was launched, the USIA started Radio Marti, an immensely powerful radio transmitter tethered from a huge blimp in the Florida Keys. The controversial station broadcast to Cuba, irritating Cuban Premier Fidel Castro enough for him to jam the signals of U.S. broadcasters. The Radio Marti blimp crashed after deflating while airborne a number of years ago. The station returned to the air and has been joined by TV Marti as well.(Source: Antonio Schuler/SW World via Ron Trotto)